Reference to the CFA’s Advocacy Update from September 1, 2022

Canada’s gross domestic product edged up 0.1 per cent in the month of June, with 0.8 per cent real GDP growth in the second quarter of this year, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.

The Canadian economy grew at an annual rate of 3.3 per cent during the second quarter, its fourth consecutive expansion. After flat growth in May, 14 of 20 industrial sectors had a slight expansion in June, with client-facing industries — like travel and restaurants — driving much of the growth after the easing of public health and border restrictions.

But the data agency said there are early indications that the real GDP came down by 0.1 per cent in July, particularly in manufacturing, retail trade, wholesale and utilities sectors. In its ongoing campaign to cool inflation, the Bank of Canada increased borrowing rates to 2.5 per cent in July, with another rate hike expected on Sept. 7.

Household spending rises, housing investment declines. The report says businesses ramped up their investments in inventories, engineering structures and machinery and equipment.

Meanwhile, household spending on semi-durable goods rose, with the jump driven by an increase in spending on clothing and footwear as more people headed back to the office.

At the same time, housing investment declined in the second quarter along with household spending on durable goods. Disposable income rose — as did household incomes, with higher compensation of employees — but savings rates declined from 9.5 per cent to 6.2 per cent in the second quarter. By comparison, that rate was 2.7 per cent at the end of 2019, the agency said.